What to Expect at Your Pathology Collection

If your GP has handed you a pathology request form, knowing what to expect at a blood test can take a lot of the worry out of the visit. At Harpley Doctors, Australian Clinical Labs has a pathology collection centre on site, so you can have blood taken in the same centre where you see your doctor. Most collections take only a few minutes, and a little preparation makes them smoother. This guide covers what to bring, fasting, the collection itself, aftercare and how you get your results.

Before Your Visit: The Referral and What to Bring

You need a referral from your doctor to have a blood test, as healthdirect’s guide to blood testing explains. Your GP gives you a pathology request form, and you hand it to the collector when you arrive. Blood tests help your doctor check your general health and diagnose or monitor conditions, which is why they are a regular part of acute and chronic condition management.

Your doctor may order tests for many reasons. Common examples include an HbA1c test as part of diabetes care, cholesterol and lipid tests, which healthdirect lists among the tests that check on your heart and are relevant to a heart health check, and an hCG pregnancy test, which can be an early step toward antenatal and pregnancy care. Your GP may also talk about tests during routine medical check-ups.

According to Australian Clinical Labs’ preparation advice, you should bring:

• your pathology request form (paper and electronic referrals are both accepted)
• your valid Medicare card or Veterans’ Affairs card, which confirms your eligibility for bulk billed testing

Do You Need to Fast?

Most blood tests need no preparation, but some do. Your doctor will tell you if a fasting blood test is needed. Healthdirect notes some tests instead ask you to avoid certain foods or have the test at a set time of day.

If you do need to fast, Australian Clinical Labs advises:

• fasting is generally done overnight, with nothing to eat or drink for 10 to 12 hours before the test
• drinking water is allowed, and it can reduce the risk of fainting and make your veins easier to find
• only stop a medication if your doctor tells you to, and take your medicines with water
• avoid smoking for 2 hours before the test
• if you live with diabetes, talk to your doctor before you fast
• do not fast for longer than 16 hours

If you are fasting, the same advice suggests coming in as early as possible.

What to Expect at a Blood Test, Step by Step

Here is what to expect at a blood test once you are called in, based on healthdirect’s description of the process:

1. The collector checks that your personal details on the request form are correct.
2. A tourniquet band goes around your arm, and you may be asked to make a fist so your veins are easier to see and feel.
3. A needle is placed into a vein in your arm, and a small amount of blood is drawn into one or more tubes.
4. The needle is removed, and you press on the spot until the bleeding stops.

For most people the whole thing takes only a few minutes. It may hurt a little as the needle goes in and comes out, but healthdirect says the pain is usually mild and lasts a minute or so.

If You Feel Nervous or Faint

Feeling uneasy about needles is common, and the first step is to tell the collector how you feel. Australian Clinical Labs says its staff can have you lie down if you tend to feel light-headed. It also suggests focusing on your breathing, turning your head away, and trying not to hold your breath or tense up.

Dizziness or fainting affects fewer than 4 in every 100 people, according to the lab’s information. Healthdirect advises staying seated for a while afterwards and getting up slowly if you feel light-headed. If you are taking blood-thinning medication, let the collector know, as bruising can be worse.

Looking After Your Arm Afterwards

Bruising is the most common side effect, and around 1 in 7 people get one. The Australian Clinical Labs aftercare instructions recommend that you:

• leave the dressing in place for 30 minutes to an hour
• avoid tight clothing on that arm for the rest of the day
• apply firm pressure over the needle site if it starts bleeding
• avoid sport, heavy lifting, pushing or pulling with that arm for the rest of the day
• raise the arm and hold ice on the site for 10 minutes if it becomes sore or swollen

Getting Your Results

Healthdirect says results for most common blood tests are available within 1 to 2 days, though some take longer. Ask your doctor when to expect them and whether you need a follow-up appointment. Results are often compared with reference intervals, which are ranges considered generally normal for the population, so a result marked high or low is worth talking through with your doctor rather than worrying about on your own.

Medicare covers all or part of the cost of most common blood tests, and many are bulk billed, according to healthdirect. Your follow-up visit is a standard consultation, and all consultations at Harpley Doctors are bulk billed. More detail is on our patient information and fees page.

Pathology Collection Hours at Harpley Doctors

The on-site collection centre has shorter hours than the clinic itself:

• Monday to Friday: 8 am to 12 pm
• Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm
• Sunday: closed

Australian Clinical Labs says most pathology tests do not need an appointment, but some, such as a glucose tolerance test, do need booking. The clinic’s doctors keep longer hours, including weekend GP appointments, so you can see a doctor outside collection times. If you are new to the practice, our new patient registration guide explains what to bring to your first visit, and you can read about each doctor on our team page.

Blood tests are one part of preventive health checks at every stage of life. The main things to remember are simple: bring your form and card, follow any fasting instructions, and book a time to go through your results with your GP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink water before a fasting blood test?

Yes. Australian Clinical Labs says drinking water is allowed before a fasting test, and it may help reduce the risk of fainting and make your veins easier to find.

Should I stop taking my medicines before a blood test?

Only if your doctor tells you to. Australian Clinical Labs advises that medications should only be stopped on your doctor’s instructions, and you can take them with water before the test.

How long do blood test results take?

Healthdirect says most common blood test results are available within 1 to 2 days, while some tests take longer. Your doctor will let you know whether a follow-up appointment is needed.

Do I need an appointment for pathology at Harpley Doctors?

Most pathology tests do not need an appointment, according to Australian Clinical Labs, but some tests such as a glucose tolerance test need booking. The on-site centre is open Monday to Friday 8 am to 12 pm and Saturday 9 am to 1 pm.